With Bering Sea ice finally retreating well north of the Pribilof Islands, commercial crabbers are wondering how much of their opilio snow crab quota can be caught before the season ends 15 June.
Icy waters have already contributed to one of the worst seasons in decades, prompting managers at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to extend the previous opilio deadline of 31 May.
Trident Seafoods Operations Vice President Paul Padgett thinks his fleet will wrap up early. Unalaska city Natural Resources Manager Frank Kelty sees a "fighting chance" fisherman will reach the quota, but would like to see another extension of at least a week. Alaska Department of Fish and Game Shellfish Management Biologist Heather Fitch says the crabbers could get it all.
On Tuesday Fitch said 15.7 million pounds remained from the original 88.9 million pound quota.
